The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-10
TURKISH REcREATIoNS.
How the IndoIent Subjects of the Sultan
Amuse Themselves.

How the IndoIent Subjects of the sultsE
Amuse Themselves.
The traits of people may often bt
judged as correctly from their pleasure:
and recreations as from their history
and serious conduct. In the freedom
of the idle, pleasureseeking hours. a
people will betray whether they are
imaginative or matter-of-fact, whether
they are gentle or rough. whether they
are sober or buoyant of spirit. 1t is
usual to find that people who dwell
in rugged, inhospitable lands, in re.
gions of storm and gloomy skies. prefer
amusements which are hardy and act
i've; while those who dwell in softer.
SUMMER chimes enjoy themselves in
milder recreations.
The old French chronicler, Froissart,
observed, when in England, that the
English 'took their pleasures very
sadly" The English. and especially
the Scotch, dwelling as they do in a
capricious climate. are noted for the
ruggedness and hardihood of their
sports. The buoyancy and gayety of
the French character, on the other hand.
are strikingly reflected in the lightness
and sparkle which appear in all their
favOrite pastimes.
The recreations of Oriental peoples
are more interesting, because less
familiar to us, than those of the Western
peoples. and afford quite as reliable a
sojourner in Turkey has given a very
entertaining account of the ways in
which the subjects of the Sultan beguile
their many idle hours. The Turks are
an indolent people. The languor Of
their beautiful climate renders them
prone to take the world easily. to have
frequent holidays. and to enjoy pleas
ures which soothe rather than excite.
The principal public recreations OF
the Turks are three. One is. to witness
the burlesque acting of company Of
men, who do not use any stage for their
performances, but issue forth from be-
hind simple screen. These players 90
about from place to place, erect their
screen in the open air, and give their
performances before the motley crowd
of turbaned idlers who gather around
them. Another favOrite amusement IS
what the writer referred to calls the
Turkish Punch and Judy" This
show, however, is given by means of
shadows cast upon a white sheet The
effect of this is very weird and striking.
The third public recreation is the
gathering in the streets, or on the open
spaces, to listen to the thrilling tales OF
the ''meddahs," or professional story
tellers. The meddahs take the place,
in Turkey, of lecturers III America.
They relate the most exciting stories,
with many emphatic gestures, contor-
tons of the face and nlodulationS of the
voice. They sit in the middle of an at
tentiye circle. and often rouse their
hearers to high pitch of breathlesS
interest and excitement by their dra-
matte powers of narration.
The Turkish women are allowed to
witness the burlesque acting, but they
are forbidden to be present at the
Punch and Judy shows, and at the
storytelling of the meddahs. The
women, moreover. are not permitted
TO attend the theaters and opera
houses.
Like all Orientals. the Turks arc
very fond of music and of dancing.
But their airs, musical instruments and
dances are entirely different from those
of Western Europe. They partake
very much of the nature of the race as
seen in other ways. The Turkish
music, to Western ears, sounds soft,
melodious and monotonous. The Turks,
on the other hand. regard European
music as too loud, boisterous and con-
fused in sound. A choir, or an orches-
ira, in Turkey, all sing and play the
air only.
The Turks like ceremony, and all
their recreation5 are pursued in Sc
date, quiet, ceremonious way. The must
clans, dancers, story-tellers are ushered
before and away from their audiences
with fiouriShes and obeisanceS, and are
rewarded with much solemnity of de-
meanor. There are very few recrca-
tions in Turkey in which men and !
women are allowed to take part il !
common. When both sexes witness !
the same performance, the women al
ways sit in a group behind screen or
thick lattice, so that they can witness
what is going forward without seeing
Dr. being seen by the men. Bat in this
case, the best point from which to view
the performance is accorded to the
women.-Koutt'S Companion.
The First Lightning Pod.
Il we are to believe an Austrian |